Hypnosis as an Anti-Seasickness Remedy - By: Peter James Field

Sea sickness and its associated discomfort and nausea can be a truly debilitating and uncomfortable experience

In certain cases - SCUBA diving, for example, it can even put the individual in real danger. Throwing up into an air-providing mouthpiece, for example, can not only be scary, it can be life-threatening.

But what do we really know about seasickness - and is there a real cure for seasickness?

Well, we know that it is most often caused by the confusion of visual cues coming from the eye that tell the brain things are stable, and internal cues - particularly those coming from the centre of balance, in the inner ear - that tell the brain that things are in fact moving.

When we are at sea and look at the cabin or hold, for example, it seems to be unmoving and fixed. But our inner centre of balance informs us otherwise -- and the effect is that confusion and nausea are produced.

Also, the rising and falling of the ship or boat, the roll, pitch and heave, can produce uncomfortable feelings in the bowels as they press against the diaphragm, and this can further aggravate the situation.

As a consequence, stress hormones are produced which, combined with the natural defensive contraction and tightening of the stomach muscles causes the symptoms that those suffering from seasickness know only too well: shivering and shaking, cold sweats and dizziness, the feeling of blood being drained from the face and head and the intense nausea that so often leads to vomiting.

In short, we experience seasickness.

A useful technique when feelings of seasickness appear is to focus on the horizon, if it is visible. If this isn't possible, simply choosing a place near the centre of the ship or boat and lying down on your back while breathing deeply and slowly can be really helpful. Instead of staying below deck, it's better to be out in the open, with the wind blowing in your face.

There are, of course, a number of commercial anti-seasickness preparations available, such as Dramamine or Scopolamine, and many find that ginger capsules, ginger tea, or sucking on a piece of crystallized ginger is of help.

Yet these remedies are far from successful for everyone.

It is here that advanced hypnotherapy can be so effective; helping the brain to process, re-interpret and harmonize input in a balanced manner.

When Kevin Costner was filming his movie 'Waterworld' in Hawaii, for example, he found that no matter what he swallowed or did seasickness took over, causing major problems. His seasickness was causing highly expensive delays in filming. He had already been working with a competent hypnotherapist and so flew him to Hawaii in order to work with him in overcoming his difficulty.

Soon Costner was able to find his sea legs and get on with filming -- without being blocked by seasickness.

Not every hypnotherapist knows how to work with seasickness, however. If you should decide to use hypnotherapy in order to conquer seasickness, it is vital that you select a practitioner who has the necessary advanced training in this area.

Enquire about the therapist's qualifications and training and ask about his or her actual experience in handling this issue.

With the right kind of advanced hypnotherapy, you really can get seasickness under control and enjoy being on or in the water.

About the Author

Peter Field is one of the foremost British hypno-psychotherapists, with busy clinics in Birmingham and London, England. He is the author of numerous articles on psychotherapy, hypnosis and health; a Fellow of the Royal Society of Health and Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. More of his absorbing articles and other useful information can be found on his website: http://www.peterfieldhypnotherapy.co.uk

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Peter-James-Field/38685

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